England's character to get face-saving Test win - Root

Melbourne, Dec 30 (AFP) England was again denied a win in
their troubled Ashes series here today, but skipper Joe Root
says it is all eyes on a face-saving win in the final Test in
Sydney.

The tourists were in the box seat for much of the Boxing
Day Test, bowling out Australia for a below-par 327 on an
unresponsive MCG pitch and then taking a 164-run innings lead
on the back of Alastair Cook's herculean unbeaten 244.

It was only the mastery of Steve Smith who kept England
at bay, batting out the entire last day with an unbeaten 102
for a draw to leave the tourists still without a win in four
Tests.

The hosts have already clinched the Ashes with an
unassailable 3-0 lead in the series ahead of the fifth Test in
Sydney next week.

"Disappointed that we couldn't quite crack it open today
but we tried absolutely everything and the efforts and work-
rates from all the guys was there all day," Root said.

"I am very proud about the way we went about it. Off
three very difficult games and to put in a performance like
that is really pleasing and that's what we're about as a side.

"That's a fair reflection of what we are capable of as a
team and on a very unresponsive wicket to perform how we did
with the ball on the first and second day was outstanding.

"Cookie to go on and make a massive double-hundred like
he did was exactly what you're after following a strong two
days with the ball."

Coming after the crushing disappointment of relinquishing
the Ashes in a dispiriting innings defeat in the third Perth
Test, Root said his team had showed its character in
Melbourne.

"In terms of our squad the character is never something
that I question and the way that we apply ourselves and the
attitude that we take is always there," he said.

"They had a lot of disappointment coming away from Perth
and you could see the way they went about training that they
were desperate to prove a lot of people wrong and make sure we
get something good out of this tour.

"That's the response you want to see from your players,"
he added.

"We are a better team than what we've played on this trip
and that is a benchmark for our side moving forward and try to
make sure that we go one better in Sydney and get that win
that we want